WSJ: McDonald's puts $2B global media buying business under review

It would be the first review in around 14 years for the fast food brand as it looks to more efficiently spend its advertising dollars.

By David Kirkpatrick , Peter Adams • Oct. 27, 2017

Mountain Dew's replacement for long-time ambassador Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks like a joke

A fictional "Dewey Ryder" — played by real-life comedian and actor Danny McBride — brashly announced he's taking over.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 27, 2017

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Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including Gen Z, pop culture and generative AI.

By Marketing Dive staff

Study: Google's advantage strengthens in AI-powered smartphone market

More than 80% of smartphones priced at $100 or more will have an on-board assistant by 2020, mainly driven by Google Assistant.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 26, 2017

Amazon adds paid subscriptions to Alexa skill inventory

The update will give third-party developers a way to monetize skills for the voice-activated assistant.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 26, 2017

Uber partners with Barclays on app-centric Visa card

The rewards card, aimed at heavy users of ride-sharing, is fully integrated into the Uber app. 

By Robert Williams • Oct. 26, 2017

Why brands should care about mobile performance marketing

Performance campaigns won't replace brand advertising, but they do have a place once in-app behaviors that equate to a higher ROI have been identified, writes Dale Carr, founder and CEO at Leadbolt.

By Dale Carr • Oct. 26, 2017

Study: Maybelline leads cosmetics brands in Instagram engagement

ShareIQ found that L'Oreal-owned brand Maybelline has nearly 60 million likes on Instagram — 49x Revlon's count — so far this year.

By David Kirkpatrick • Oct. 26, 2017

Twitter opens new windows into ad transparency for users, brands

In a possible attempt to one-up competitors like Facebook, the platform has introduced a bluntly-named Transparency Center, along with submitting to an MRC audit.  

By Peter Adams • Oct. 25, 2017

Amazon unlocks in-home delivery with 'Amazon Key'

Prime members in 37 cities will be able to give remote access to their homes for services and package delivery via an app and the company's latest device.

By Corinne Ruff • Oct. 25, 2017

Snapchat adds link sharing, more flexibility for Ghost Mode on iOS

Adding link sharing could transform the platform into a source of referral traffic to news and e-commerce sites.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2017

McDonald's readies marketing push for mobile ordering

The chain also reports it's increasingly driving traffic and growth with digital offers.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2017

Facebook joins Visa program for secure transactions

The social media giant will use the Visa Token Service to speed up payments on its platforms.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2017

Google's Showcase Shopping ads aim to lure shoppers early on

The format is available to all brands for the first time, enabling them to group related products to boost discoverability when shoppers search with broad terms.

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Oct. 25, 2017

Ford appoints new global CMO in leadership shakeup

Kumar Galhotra, president of the Lincoln brand, takes over for Stephen Odell as the company continues to sharpen a focus on mobility.  

By David Kirkpatrick , Peter Adams • Oct. 25, 2017

Gap and Janelle Monáe bring people together in diversity-minded holiday campaign

A spot starring the artist is the centerpiece of a multichannel push that includes a live commercial integration for "The Late Late Show with James Corden."

By David Kirkpatrick , Peter Adams • Oct. 25, 2017

Google Home plays to kids' interests with voice-based games, more from Disney

The search giant's line of smart speakers aims to become more family-friendly with 50 new audio experiences. 

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2017

Mercedes-Benz's 6-second vertical ad mirrors its hybrid's acceleration

The length of the video ad parallels the car's ability to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Oct. 24, 2017

Mastercard teams up with Saks to show the future of AR shopping

Two red-hot technologies — AR and eye-scanning for payment — were featured in a demonstration at fintech conference Money 20/20 this week.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 24, 2017

Report: Snap seeks programmatic ads for Snapchat shows

The messaging app is said to be struggling to fill ad space inside its video programming.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 24, 2017

Pay with Google streamlines Android mobile pay options

The feature brings together payment options in a single location, aiming to make transactions quicker and friction-free.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 24, 2017

Target unveils mobile pay in time for the holidays

The mass merchant is betting that its new private label lines will balance the margin hit from consumer goods price cuts.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 24, 2017

Butterfinger and Crunch pick Reach Agency as new creative AOR

The social-first shop will help the Nestlé brands ramp up marketing around new products and introduce Crunch's first advertising campaign in more than seven years. 

By David Kirkpatrick , Peter Adams • Oct. 24, 2017

Facebook tests removing publishers' posts from News Feed in 6 countries

The social giant attempted to ease concerns, stating there are no current plans "to charge pages on Facebook to pay for all their distribution in News Feed or Explore."

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Oct. 24, 2017

Budweiser and Lyft offer Prohibition tour to promote limited-edition beer

The 1933 Repeal Reserve Amber Lager is based on a pre-Prohibition recipe that never received distribution outside the St. Louis area.

By David Kirkpatrick • Oct. 24, 2017

3 things mobile marketers must know ahead of the holidays

Shifting consumer behavior and augmented reality should be factors in holiday marketing strategies this year, writes Jeff Hasen of Possible Mobile.

By Jeff Hasen • Oct. 24, 2017